Does your family/friends know you see a counsellor?

[Daisychain]

My family know I see a counsellor regularly, they do treat me different because of it. My mom just doesn't understand at all. Her reaction when I told her was ''only crazy people see therapists''. I was very offended and upset.

I'd like to know do your family or friends know you visit a counsellor and if so what was their reaction?

[Fluffy Flowers]

My family know, and they were relieved that finally someone was willing to help me. Unfotunately that now means I feel trapped and like I have to see her, because if I don't, or when I have said that I was thinking of stopping they get angry and won't talk to me.

I don't have any 'real life' friends, but my internet ones know.

[Jenny]

Many years ago I suggested to my mum that she see a counsellor but she said there was nothing wrong with her.. i guess only she can want help huh. But that's not really what you're asking, sorry.

In the past i've never told my parents that i've been in therapy - they don't see counselling as something positive (career-wise anyway) and to be more honest i think they feel threatened that i'm going to a counsellor and may be talking about the bad things they've done!

But a couple of years ago i started a course in Transactional Analysis so had to be in therapy while on the course, so this (i felt) was an "acceptable" reason to be in therapy.. so i told my mum that i was seeing a therapist "because" of the course. She never questioned it, although did regularly ask me what we talked about - i never told her!

She never treated me any different for it but it was interesting to see her try to tell people, e.g. her then-partner where i was on a friday evening until 7:30. She felt the need to make up excuses, but i didn't! I guess though because my reason for being in therapy could be put down to "having" to be in therapy "because of" my course...... in reality the course finished last July and i stayed in therapy for another 18 months afterwards so that reason clearly wasn't quite accurate huh!

I guess it can be quite a taboo subject though to tell people you're seeing a counsellor.. i don't know.. maybe it's getting more acceptable? Or is that my own thoughts/beliefs coming out again :wootrock:

[shrinknightmare]

Yep my whole family know and my work know (they sent me) and I don't care. I mean if you can't fall apart when your only daughter commits suicide and it makes the world wide news and you get bullied at work, you get blackmailed by another parent over the story that made it in a magazine, when can you fall apart??? I also saw the body bag that contained her body on the internet.

One of the major bullies was in an airplane accident, he is ok, but Karma is a wonderful thing.

[LostInThought]

My family, some close friends and college know that I see a counsellor.
And in a way my mam reacted some what like Daisy's.
She asks me all the time, why I see a counsellor and if I truely feel I need one. She once told me it was 'all in my head' and there was nothing actually wrong. She often says that if I just spoke to her every thing would be okay. the thing is.. i dont trust my mam! She also tells me that if i has carried on going to church as a child and not rebelled once i got into senior school, ever thing would be ok!
She thinks God is the answer to every thing.

My gran is very old fashioned and doesnt believe there is any such thing as depression and told me i was 'weak' for seeing a counsellor. she always says that i should just 'hurry up and get over my self'. I hate it when she says these things. it really hurts.

I dont think my dad understand the whole thing. he just sees it as some one who is 'helping his little angel get happy'... I like this view :)
I just wish he knew why I seen a counsellor.

When I told my friends i was in counsilling they didn't believe me. One even said... 'but your not crazy?'
I think alot of people see counselloring as some thing it isn't. and they dont understand that people seek help for a range of problems/issues... not just because they are 'crazy'.

[TDM]

The friends that I've told (or found out) think I don't need it and think it's purely because my parents were (are??) so screwed up and I got forced into it by school. Not exactly a lie, I guess.

I haven't seen her for... I don't actually remember.

TDM

[Katmandu40]

My family know I see a shrink...I didn't like the idea of their knowing at first...was ashamed of it, but now I don't care who knows it! I have very few friends and they know.

Wanted to add that I found out others in my family had some serious mental problems too or at different times in their life...was an eye opener!

[Daisychain]

[QUOTE=Jenny;2199]Many years ago I suggested to my mum that she see a counsellor but she said there was nothing wrong with her.. i guess only she can want help huh.

I can totally relate. My mom is in desperate need of therapy, she is controlling,obsessive and irrational , the problem is she can't see it at all. I've suggested that she see a therapist,I even told her I will make the appointment for her and go with her, she just shrugged it off by calling me insane. There's not much more I can do :(

[ell]

My parents suggested counselling, my mum even gave me the number to ring. She was like 'you really need it'. lol.

[kfunk01]

My parents and family don't know the only one who know is my sister and a few friends. I have to say that I am afraid of my parents reaction. I just don't want to feel not wanted. That is sort of how I feel already.

[Old Wolf]

I know it hurts to feel not wanted, not loved and not valued and especially by your parents. However, I see from another thread that you are 26 - you are no longer a dependent minor, you are an adult and as such you have a responsibility to take care of yourself. You were acting responsibly by being brave enough to see a therapist and recognise you have a problem in the first case. If your parents react to that in a negative way then, quite honestly, that's their problem - it's not your fault - their reaction arises from their issues. I'm sorry to hear that you feel unwanted. Working with your therapist in an open and honest way should help you to see that you are a valuable, loveable person and that the belief you have that you are not is false "programming" - i.e. something you have been led to believe down the years that is not actually true. Stick with it - do it for you - if others can't deal with it that's their problem.
Best wishes, Old Wolf

[Jenny]

I told my partner that I'm in therapy.. and that i'm going 3 times a week! He took it quite well.. in fact was quite supportive! Although seems to be rooting for some gossip as to what i talk about while i'm there, but i guess that's understandable. :)

[Daisychain]

:hug: I'm glad he is supportive about it Jenny!

[aimeejulia]

my partner used to ask me all the time what we talk about if we talk about him etc

i had to explain that i need to do this for me, that its my therapy and the best way to help me is not to ask questions